European Parliament expresses support for strengthening the Energy Community Treaty

In a resolution on the European Neighbourhood Policy adopted on 23 October, the European Parliament expressed its support for “extending the Energy Community Treaty beyond 2016, whilst adapting its decision-making to future challenges, including by setting up legal control mechanisms to deal with deficient acquis implementation as well as solidarity mechanisms”. The Parliament noted the Energy Community’s role in setting the basis for the establishment of a fully integrated regional energy market favouring growth, investment and a stable regulatory framework and called for further expansion of the Energy Community through the European Neighbourhood Policy, in line with the objectives of the Energy Community on the basis of mutual interest. The Parliament further noted that regulatory integration should be in line with common investments in interconnection capacity and infrastructure as well as renewable energy, energy efficiency and new technologies.

The adopted text was warmly welcomed by Energy Community Secretariat Director, Janez Kopač. “I am very pleased with the European Parliament’s support for the Energy Community and its increased understanding of the organisation’s role in the region. This is particularly important in the context of the establishment of the High Level Reflection Group, chaired by Former President of the European Parliament and Prime Minister of Poland, Mr Jerzy Buzek, which was tasked by the Ministerial Council on 24 October to assess the shortcomings of the current Energy Community Treaty and make proposals for its reform,” stated Mr Kopač.

energjia.al, 01.11.2013